Triathlon Victoria is thrilled to announce the induction of Victorian triathlon greats Emma Carney, Tim Bentley and Stephen Foster as Legends of Multisport at this year’s Triathlon Victoria Awards. Not only have Emma, Tim and Stephen distinguished themselves at the highest level of sporting performance with their achievements but they have made a significant contribution to the sport, enhancing the image and interest of triathlon in Victoria and across Australia.  

Emma Carney

Triathlon Australia Hall of Fame and inaugural ITU Hall of Fame triathlete Emma Carney dominated the mid 1990's in Sprint and Olympic Distance triathlon. The first of the three World Champion 'Emma’s', with Snowsill and Moffat the other two. She is a two-time World Champion, winning the 1994 world title by a record margin of 2 minutes 12 seconds, was number one ranked athlete in 1995, 1996 and 1997 and had 19 world cup wins with 12 straight during this time. 
Her fellow athletes marvelled at her hard - 'all or nothing' attitude with training and with competition. Forced to retire for health reasons, she had continued to be involved and as a coach and Triathlon Australia board member.

Stephen Foster
Stephen Foster is a Triathlon Australia Hall of Fame athlete. He first competed in 1983 and within a few short years was at the top of the sport in Australia. As an 18 year old Steve was third at the ‘Triple M’ Triathlon ironman distance behind Scott Tinley and Marc Dragan and third at the first Forster ironman distance behind American Grant Boswell and Marc Dragan again.
Steve was Triathlete of the Year three of the four years it was held in the 80's, was the National Series Champion, five times National Olympic Distance Champion, as well as National Long Course Champion. 
Prize money and local victories were key measures of success but the primary way in which achievements of the Australian athletes was measured was success against the world’s best. Foster was the first Aussie male to have significant success over the best, beating Scott Tinley, and Rob Barel in Australia and finishing ahead of Dave Scott, Mark Allen and Scott Molina in the 1987 unofficial World Championships, going on win the world’s biggest race, Chicago ahead of Mike Pigg.

Tim Bentley
When we talk of Victorian pioneers of our sport one name stands out as probably the most successful Victorian triathlete in terms of race wins at both elite and age group level.
Like Stephen Foster, Tim Bentley was at the sports beginning in Australia. Australian Sprint Champion in 1983, a foundation member of the Geelong Triathlon Club and Australian ‘Endurathon’ winner in 1986 Tim was an athlete with an incredible run leg. He frequently started the run ‘down the field’ and proceeded to run himself onto the podium at all levels. Like all ‘pioneer’ triathletes of the early period Tim competed across all distances winning at Sprint, Olympic and Long Course. In the golden age of our sport Tim’s ability stood out and he ‘bested’ many of the superstars of the era.

Congratulations Emma, Stephen and Tim!

Other Triathlon Victoria awards to be presented this Sunday include:

• Male and Female Athlete of the Year
• Junior Male and Female Athlete of the Year
• Club Coach Award
• Most Inspiring Performance Award
• Technical Official Award
• Club Volunteer Award
• President’s Special Recognition Award

 For further details please contact Grant Cosgriff, Executive Director M: 0403 041 400